The yellow, 2011 Annual Pass will expire on December 31, 2011. (Please recycle/reuse as a luggage tag).

The new 2012 SILVER Annual Pass and the 2013 GOLD Two Year Pass are now on sale. The 2012 SILVER Annual Pass is valid for unlimited riding until December 31, 2012. The cost for the Individual Pass is $45, and $60 for a Family Pass (2 adults living in the same household).

The 2013 GOLD Two Year Pass is valid until December 31, 2013. The cost for a GOLD pass is $85 for the Individual Pass and $115 for a Family Pass.

The trails at Tamarancho were built, over a 6 year period by volunteer cyclists. The construction was paid for and coordinated by the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin (BTCM) with president Jim Jacobsen supervising the project.

Each year, since the construction, BTC coordinates trailwork days to maintain the trails. This involves improving drainage, cutting back foliage, removing invasive plants, and more.

No experience is necessary This is your chance to help the best bike legal trail system in Marin.

Details:

Dates: Saturdays Dec 10, Dec 17, Jan 7, Jan 14, Jan 21

Time: 10 am (sharp) at camp. Usually work until 1pm or so.

Location: We meet at the center of the camp. You can drive up or ride your bike. Give yourself ample time to get to meeting location.

Bring: Work clothes, sturdy shoes, gloves. We supply all tools, snacks and drinks.

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition joins Access4Bikes, Bicycle Trails Council of Marin, and NorCal in supporting the one day closure of the Repack Fire Road (Cascade Fire Road) on Thanksgiving Day, to help protect sensitive habitat and steelhead trout in Cascade Canyon.

The Marin County Open Space District and MMWD reached out to the bicycle community earlier this month to ask for our help in addressing concerns regarding the Appetite Seminar bicycle ride on Thanksgiving Day.

The closure of Repack will be the only change to the route, and has the support of longtime Seminar riders Gary Fisher, Jacquie Phelan, Charlie Kelly, Otis Guy and Joe Breeze.

Volunteers will be stationed at key locations along the route with maps that will show the other great ways to finish your ride. (Note: if you have a current annual pass, or a day pass, Tamarancho trails are an alternative way to get to Fairfax.)

And don't forget to join MCBC at 31 Bolinas Road in Fairfax for a post ride beverage and Clif Bars.

The Marin Council of Boy Scouts, and Camp Tamarancho join Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC), Access4Bikes, and Bicycle Trails Council (BTC) in supporting the one day closure of Repack Fire Road on Thanksgiving Day, as requested by MMWD and Marin County Open Space.

The Scouts have announced that on Thanksgiving Day, bike riders can use the trails at the camp, as an alternative route to Repack, to return to Fairfax.

The Scouts, in the spirit of the holiday, have also waived the regular $5 day fee for use of the trails on their private property, on this one day.

Please note that the trails at Tamarancho are rated "Intermediate/Advanced" and are not recommended for riders who are inexperienced with riding on narrow singlet track trails.

According to MCBC, volunteers will be stationed a key locations with maps of alternative routes.

5. MCBC Takes It Off-Road

The Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) takes great pride in announcing a new off-road advocacy program, thanks in part to a generous contribution from the Bicycle Trails Council of Marin, the organization that builds and maintains trails throughout Marin, including the trails at Camp Tamarancho.

The Bicycle Trails Council of Marin (BTC Marin) has advocated for mountain bike trails since 1987.

Now BTC Marin passes the advocacy torch to MCBC to carry on efforts to educate mountain bikers, to expand opportunities for mountain biking in Marin County and to inspire a sense of stewardship in our public lands.

With BTC Marin's generous contribution, MCBC is well on it's way to raising $60,000 to hire an advocacy director.

To learn more about MCBC's new off-road cycling program, to donate because mountain biking is your passion, or to apply for MCBC's Dirt Director position visit:

The Broken Drum Brewery and Wood Grill in San Rafael will make MCBC the beneficiary of a Give Back Tuesday night at the 4th Street pub.

10% of all sales for the evening will go to MCBC's new Off-road program, which will focus on education and trail and land stewardship, educate riders about trail etiquette, and work to reach consensus on where access for bikes can be increased in Marin.

Tamarancho is open all year, in all weather. But in the winter, when the trails are very wet after a big storm, that is good time to ride other locations rather than the camp. We say, "When it rains, let it drain"...A couple of new "bypass" trails have been open in Tamarancho. One is near the bottom of Serpentine, and goes around the Rock Face and the other is on Broken Dam, near the Big Bridge, and includes 2 switchbacks. Check them out....GGNRA is having an open house, Wed Dec 7, for comments about equestrian stables on their land. For more info go to: www.parkplanning.nps.gov....The camp can have heavy bike use during prime time on the weekends. Remember the uphill riders have right of way and ride in control...There are rumors that the Tamarancho Dirt Classic X-Country Race will return in 2012...There have been bobcat sightings at the camp...With big winter storms coming up, there will be some down trees and limbs as well as other storm damage. Please let us know if you come across obstacles and the location. Also we are interested in any comments or suggestions that riders have about the bike program at Tamarancho. Email: D4er@comcast.net